Mr Maxton is an economist, writer, author who presents and facilitates dialogue on Asian economy and business challenges. Well known for his insights, stimulating presentations and event-chairing style, Graeme delivers punchy, clearly articulated analysis on the challenges of doing business in the world’s fastest growing economic region. With an eye to global business affairs he draws on over 25 years' consulting and advisory experience.
Until May 2007 he was a regional director of the Economist Intelligence Unit in Asia, responsible for the editorial content of the Corporate Network, a membership programme for senior regional executives. He offers independent, opinion-leading research and analysis of trends and issues driving business in the region. He independently advises a wide range of businesses including automotive, manufacturing, distribution, financial services, consumer and service sector companies and has also presented to and advised various governments on their industry policies.
Graeme is a naturally skilled moderator, renowned for his refreshing “in-conversation’ interview style – both live and recorded - with CEOs and political figures, examples being Carlos Ghosn, President of Nissan, Vincent Cheng, Chairman of HSBC and Frank Braeken, Chairman of Unilever China. He also chairs meetings, CEO lunches and continues to lead various Economist Conferences Roundtables around the world on a wide range of subjects, including energy, defence, banking compliance, manufacturing in China and the automotive industry.
Mr Maxton is a freelance contributor for The Economist, The World in, The South China Morning Post, Scotland on Sunday, Business China and Business Asia and presenter of the Economist Corporate Network’s Doing Business in Asia video series. He regularly appears on major international news channels including CNN and the BBC as well as radio and is an occasional guest commentator /host on CNBC’s morning news programme “Swawk Box”.
He was co-founder (1992) and director for Asia until 2007 of autoPOLIS, an automotive industry consultancy, which successfully advises multinational clients and governments across the globe. Graeme was the Managing Director for Asia, providing analysis and presentations at board level for companies building their presence in the region. He is also author of countless automotive articles as well as co-author of two best-selling books - Time for a Model Change (Cambridge University Press feature book of the year 2005) and Driving off a cliff?, which nominated for the Financial Times ‘best book about business’ award.
Graeme chairs international conferences and debates, delivers keynote presentations, gives confidential briefings to chief executive officers, regional management teams and board members on a broad range of strategic issues, the challenges of doing business in Asia, the economic outlook for Asia, human capital issues in Asia and issues facing the world’s automotive industry.
He has been asked to present to clients including ABN Amro Bank, Acelor, Basell, Bayerische Landesbank, CIC Group, Citigroup, Commerzbank, CSLA, Deutsche Bank, Ernst & Young, Fortis, Freshfields, Hewlett-Packard, KPMG, Macquarie Bank, Sasol, Societe Generale, TNT Logistics. Automotive industry clients include PT Astra International, Moog, TATA Motors, Ford Motor Company, Renault, Iran Khodro, GKN, SKF, Continental Teves, Visteon, TRW, LeasePlan, Federal Mogul.
Graeme holds a first-class degree in economics and operations research and an MBA from City University, London and lives in Vienna and Hong Kong.
Global Economy & Risk 
